Therapy

Psychotherapy is the process of entering into a therapeutic relationship with a trained professional who will help you gain insight into aspects of your life which are causing distress and guide you in a healthy direction to bring about a greater sense of peace and resolution. This involves discussing and processing past experiences to help you understand how they may be continuing to impact you as well as learning new skills and behaviors to overcome present-day problems.

Initial Assessment

People seek therapy for a variety of reasons and the amount of time involved in working through problems will depend upon the nature of your difficulties. I typically spend about one to three 50-minute sessions getting to know you, evaluating your needs, and creating a strong foundation for the work of therapy. You and I will discuss your goals and establish a treatment plan together.

Treatment

My approach to treatment is rooted in the belief that cultivating a good therapeutic relationship where you feel understood and validated is the key to any successful outcome. Once that has been established, I employ a variety of techniques to address specific problems. The following are some examples:

• Exposure-based treatment for trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder
• Interpersonal Therapy (IPT): an approach to treating depression, bereavement, interpersonal issues, and other mood disorders which involves examining the way that relationships in your life, both past and present, impact your mood and learning how to identify, express, and communicate emotions more effectively.
• Mindfulness: a practice which involves paying attention to and accepting thoughts, feelings, and body sensations in the present moment, non-judgmentally, as they are happening, rather than being caught up in concerns about the future or regrets about the past. Mindfulness has been shown to be very effective in helping to manage stress, anxiety, and depression and has many other health benefits as well.
• Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT): a behavioral therapy which employs mindfulness to cultivate psychological flexibility and helps you define what matters most to you in your life -- your values -- and how you may live a meaningful life which reflects those values rather than simply focusing on avoiding negative thoughts and feelings you may be experiencing.
• Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I): a short-term, evidence-based intervention which teaches you about the nature of sleep, adjusts your sleep schedule, and helps you address some of your negative thoughts and worries about sleep in order to get your body back in the habit of getting a good night's rest. CBT-I has been shown to have more long-term effectiveness than sleeping pills and recent studies have shown that treating insomnia can help depression as well.

Please contact me to learn more about how I can help you.